ATLANTA -- AmericasMart Atlanta and the Oriental Rug Retailers Association hosted the annual Retailer of the Year awards gala Sunday, July 17.

The winners were:

Rug specialty store: Rug & Home, Gaffney, SC. The award was accepted by the husband-and-wife team of Rakesh and Dolly Agarwal.

Carpet & Rug specialist: Carpets of Dalton, Dalton, GA. The award was accepted by buyers Andy Brumlow and Neil Conley.

Furniture store: Baer's Furniture, Boca Raton, FL. The award was accepted by David Baer and Richard Jaunich, director of flooring.

Creative Selling Award: The Mink Companies-Macy's East. The award was accepted by Richard Kennedy, senior vice president of sales.

Outstanding Merchandising: American Home Design, Albuquerque, NM.

ROY AWARDS HONORS INDUSTRY'S TOP RETAILERS and a great time was had by all! Rakesh and Dolly Agarwal of Rug & Home, Gaffney, SC, accept award as rug specialty store Retailers of the Year. Like many other rug specialists, Rug & Home has branched out into many home furnishings categories in the past ten years. AmericasMart executives  Chas Sydney and Kevin Malkiewicz flank Baer Furniture's David Baer and Richard Jaunich. Andy Brumlow and Neil Conley of Carpets of Dalton, center, with the Mart's Chas Sydney and Kevin Malkiewicz. Carpets of Dalton began as a remnant business in the 1970's and now the 4-store campus of stores carry every type of home furnishings. Richard Kennedy, senior vice president of The Mink Companies and wife Sarah Kennedy, owner of The Vintage Cottage, Duluth, GA. Roy Award for Creative Selling went to The Mink Companies, which has a long and successful history operating rug lease departments. The Mink Companies operates the rug departments in the Macy's East stores. Relaxing at the ROY gala: David Banilevi of Aminco; Roz Rustigian of Rustigian Rugs, Providence, RI; Paul Vesely, principal of Ves-Levy, and Dave Savula, senior vice president of leasing, AmericasMart. Lissa Wyman enjoys a moment with Steve Arroll, a principal of S&S Rug Cleaners, Atlanta.